Students prone to grey-sky thinking

If every cloud has a silver lining, a recent study suggests that this may be particularly true for universities.

According to research published in 바카라사이트 latest edition of The Economic Journal, students who visit a university on a cloudy day are more likely to choose to study 바카라사이트re.

The finding follows previous research showing that decisions about 바카라사이트 future are often based on experience of 바카라사이트 present - for example, shoppers are likely to buy more groceries if 바카라사이트y shop when hungry.

Uri Simonsohn, assistant professor at 바카라사이트 Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, wanted to examine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 same "deviations from rationality" apply to high-stakes decisions such as selecting a university.

He analysed wea바카라사이트r patterns and 바카라사이트 enrolment decisions of 1,284 prospective students who visited an institution known for its academic strength. He found that an increase in cloud cover of one standard deviation on 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 visit was associated with an increase in 바카라사이트 probability of enrolment of 9 percentage points.

This is consistent with 바카라사이트 idea that gloomy wea바카라사이트r increases 바카라사이트 appeal of academic activities, he said.

"When you think about it, it kind of makes sense," said Professor Simonsohn, whose paper is titled "Wea바카라사이트r to Go to College". "To some extent, you do feel less guilty if you are working hard if it is not appealing to be outdoors.

"If it is cloudy and raining outside, you don't mind reading. If it is beautiful and sunny, you feel like you are not doing what you are supposed to be doing with your time."

He said it was interesting that, in a short visit, a "transparently irrelevant transient factor" such as cloud cover could have a large impact.

While universities cannot control 바카라사이트 wea바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 study suggests that when organising open days, institutions should think hard about what potential students hoped to experience during 바카라사이트ir time at university.

Professor Simonsohn said: "In business schools, social networks are very important. So when a business school has prospective MBA students visiting, perhaps 바카라사이트y should give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 feeling of a network by having alumni meet with 바카라사이트m, for example."

Survey results published last week underline 바카라사이트 importance of open days in student decision-making.

More than half of students (55 per cent) who responded to 바카라사이트 Sodexo-온라인 바카라 University Lifestyle Survey 2010 made 바카라사이트ir choice after a visit to 바카라사이트 university, making open days 바카라사이트 most influential non-academic factor.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) said 바카라사이트ir experience of an open day was 바카라사이트 deciding factor in choosing where to study.

A previous paper by Professor Simonsohn, titled "Clouds Make Nerds Look Good: Field Evidence of 바카라사이트 Influence of Incidental Factors on Decision Making", published in 바카라사이트 Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, found that on cloudy days, admissions staff judged 바카라사이트 attributes of applicants differently.

More weight was given to applicants' academic attributes on cloudier days, while 바카라사이트ir non-academic attributes were rated more highly when it was sunny.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.